Study Tips

Physical Location:

• Find a space that is well-lit, free of interruptions and distractions.  It should be comfortable but not so much that it lulls you to sleep.
  
  
• Have everything you need before you start.  You’ll lose momentum and motivation if you have to stop in the middle of something to look for a textbook.
  
  
• Turn off the iPod -- or you’ll remember lyrics instead of formulas for your calculus exam.
  
  
• Pick the optimal time for you; daylight hours are usually preferable to burning the midnight oil.
  
  

How to Study:

• Get organized!  Use a PDA or old-fashioned daytimer to keep track of your assignments and exams.   Include lab work, textbook reading schedules, practicum dates, and any other course related scheduling.
  
  
• Break down large projects into manageable chunks and assign timelines to keep you on track.  Enter self-imposed deadlines into your PDA and treat them as any other assigment.
  
  
• Review your notes after each class, as soon as practical.  Keep up with readings.
  
  
• Build study sessions into your daily schedule – eventually studying will become habitual (and less painful).
  
  
• Don’t rely on your hi-liter.  Writing notes (think textbook margins) improves both memory retention and comprehension.
  
  
• Last-minute cram sessions are seldom productive.  Daily reviews help you absorb far more material and retain it longer.
  
  
• Study groups cannot be social groups.  If you can accomplish more by yourself, then study groups are a waste of your time.